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Measuring & Mapping

Where, how far, and how much? People have invented an astonishing array of devices to answer seemingly simple questions like these. Measuring and mapping objects in the Museum's collections include the instruments of the famous—Thomas Jefferson's thermometer and a pocket compass used by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark on their expedition across the American West. A timing device was part of the pioneering motion studies of Eadweard Muybridge in the late 1800s. Time measurement is represented in clocks from simple sundials to precise chronometers for mapping, surveying, and finding longitude. Everyday objects tell part of the story, too, from tape measures and electrical meters to more than 300 scales to measure food and drink. Maps of many kinds fill out the collections, from railroad surveys to star charts.

This is a disc water meter with frost proof bottom and serial number 129,490 that fit a ⅝” pipe, and that was made by the Phoenix Meter Corporation in Staten Island, New York. Phoenix Meter was organized in 1914, incorporated in 1925, and out of business by the early 1940s. Ernest Gamon, an engineer who had been connected with the meter industry since 1900, was a prime mover of the firm.

This is an oscillating piston water meter with a split case, the top of brass and the bottom of cast iron, and serial number 1,833,790, that was made by the National Meter Company in Brooklyn, New York. The Type-7 has a deep iron base designed to neutralize the galvanic action that might occur in some chemical-laden waters. AAX designates a linear register.

This is a current water meter with split case that fit a ⅝” pipe, and that was made by the Standard Water Meter Company in Brooklyn, New York, around 1910. Like most current meters, the measuring device here is a series of cups mounted on a spindle. The meter is marked “Pat’d Jan. 17 ’98, July 27 ’08, Feb. 8 ’10, other pats pending.” The earlier date refers to the “Rotary Fluid-Meter” patent issued to William H. Marsh, manager and later a director of Standard Water Meter. The latter two dates (one the date of application and the other the date of issuance) refer to the “Water-Wheel” patent issued to Fred Bangerter and assigned to Standard Water Meter. A Swiss-born inventor working in Brooklyn, Bangerter also devised a machine gun that could fire 2 million bullets an hour. Standard Water Meter was incorporated in 1881, reorganized several times, and out of business by 1927.

This is a disc water meter with frost proof bottom and serial number 60,777 that fit a ⅝” pipe, and that was made in the late 1890s by the Neptune Meter Company. The bronze case is marked “TRIDENT” and “60777.” The top of the cap is marked “NEPTUNE METER COMPANY NEW YORK 39291.” The inside of the cap is marked “PATENTED MAY 21, NOV. 1, 1892, FEB 6, MAY 22, 1894, MAR 12, 1895, SEP 29 ‘96” and “60777.” The firm was founded in 1892. Its original product, the Trident, was based on designs patented by John Thomson, a prolific inventor and member of the American Society of Civil Engineers. Neptune boasted in 1903 that “Nearly 165,000 Tridents” were then in use.

This is a disc water meter with a frost proof bottom and serial number 79,850 that fit a ⅝” pipe, and that was made around 1900 by the Neptune Meter Company. The bronze case is marked “TRIDENT.” The top of the cap is marked “NEPTUNE METER COMPANY NEW YORK 79850.” The inside of the cap is marked “PATENTED MAY 21, NOV. 1, 92 FEB 6 MAY 22 94 MAR 12 95 SEP 29 96 APR. 12 98 JAN 24 99.” The firm was founded in 1892. Its original product, the Trident water meter, was based on designs patented by John Thomson, a prolific inventor and member of the American Society of Civil Engineers. Neptune boasted in 1903 that “Nearly 165,000 Tridents” were then in use.

This is a disc water meter with split case and serial number 366,654 that fit a ⅝” pipe, and that was made by the Neptune Meter Company in Long Island City, New York, in the first decade of the twentieth century. The firm was founded in 1892. Its original product, the Trident water meter, was based on designs patented by John Thomson, a prolific inventor and member of the American Society of Civil Engineers. Neptune boasted in 1909 that “A record of over 600,000 Trident Meters made and sold give to us the pre-eminent position among water meter manufacturers.”

This is a disc water meter with split case and serial number 992,671 that fit a ⅝” pipe, and that was made around 1913 by the Neptune Meter Company in Long Island City, New York. The firm was founded in 1892. Its original product, the Trident water meter, was based on designs patented by John Thomson, a prolific inventor and member of the American Society of Civil Engineers.

This is a disc water meter with split case and serial number 5,507,307 that fit a ⅝” pipe, and that was made by the Neptune Meter Company in Long Island City, New York, around 1939. The Trident was based on designs patented by John Thomson, a prolific inventor and member of the American Society of Civil Engineers.

This water meter, serial number 1,302,284, fit a ⅝” pipe, and was made by the Neptune Meter Company in Long Island City, New York. Neptune introduced the Victor model around 1915, noting that it had an oscillating piston, a cast iron bottom, and precision machining of the parts.

This is a disc meter with frost proof bottom and serial number 3,908,357 that fit a ⅝” pipe, and that was made by the Neptune Meter Company in Long Island City, New York, around 1929. The Trident was based on designs patented by John Thomson, a prolific inventor and member of the American Society of Civil Engineers.